It’s officially June and Buzzie’s CA gig is on July 26th. Plenty of time to get ready. But something is resisting.
Today I worked the set list for the show. [Still confirming with Robbie Rist about assembling a snap-crackle-pop band for the show.] It will be fun to do a rockin song from the 2nd Blue Cartoon CD, “Only Me, Only You.” I haven’t played that song since I left the band. wOOt! And another song that Blue Cartoon played for a while but never made it on to a CD, “If There’s Time.”
Much work to do.
Plane tickets seemed quite cheap last time I checked. Probably time to make the reservations. The hotel is actually going to be the big cost. I won’t really need to rent a car if I stay at the Orchid Suites. But I might need one, since my show is in Orange County.
I’ve got an old band mate and best friend out there, but not sure if I want to sleep over and then rent a car. They’ve got twin girls, probably in the 3ish range. And from my buddy’s response, they’re a bit overwhelmed. I asked him to sit in on a song or two. And he didn’t have the time. Oh well. Probably better to leave them be and do the Orchid. And get a car for the morning of the Orange County show. Just thinking things through. You can hear some songs from my pre-Blue Cartoon-era with John Bergquist in a band called Felix Culpa.
And then there’s the question of how long to stay. Each night equivalent to another plane ticket. Jeesh!
But the news is: I’M GOING. And today I decided to take the Les Paul rather than the Strat. Less opportunities to mess with the tone on the Strat. I’ve been know to whack the pickup selector in a strumming frenzy and then have a hard time finding the stroke to flip it back. And since I’ll be doin a backline amp, the last thing I need is to be tweaky with my tone. So set the Les Paul and leave it. Three tones. All tone and volume knobs UP, all the way UP. Down = bright, Middle = full, Up = Heavy.
Set it and forget it. In practicing today I was messing around with the Strat and it came to me, “I don’t even want to think about it.” One less thing to worry about.
Now I just need a band and a place to stay. And I’m already “in waitin” for it. Power Pop Mecca.
It’s a brilliant summer already. “Time Stand Still!”
@jmacofearth
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